NOTE: This is a fictional retelling of a Bible story. See the footnote at the bottom of the narrative for
the scripture passage that inspired this modern version of the biblical account.
Abbey
Carmel didn’t know how many more family problems she could handle before she
cracked emotionally. In the past year her husband (the main family income) had
almost lost his job due to his anger with his work boss (Caleb Davids).
Her
older son, eighteen year-old Lawson driving drunk, had been involved in a
traffic fatality on a weekend break from college that had almost killed the
mayor’s young daughter, Tallie Green. Abbey’s youngest son, Dean, had left
college to pursue a movie career in far away Hollywood, CA. Who knew how long
he would be gone with his stubborn determination.
The
reckless Lawson had now become the responsible older son. Dean had become
careless and had vanished without a phone call. All he’d left was a brief note
saying not to worry; he’d emptied out his saving account to go pursue his
acting career in California. No one needed to worry because Dean would be okay
he said.
A
Christmas Day (years later) finally arrived with its coldness and lots of white
snow and ice. Abbey had cooked a feast; the Carmel’s big Golden Retriever (Fig
Newton) snored next to the warm fire in the fireplace. The Christmas tree
twinkled and sparkled with hundreds of white lights and colorful ornaments. As the
festive holiday music of Nat King Cole gently played in the background, Abbey
looked at the gifts under the tree and hoped somehow Dean would call them
today.
Abbey
looked out the front window, and wondered who the tattered, grizzly beggar with
a duffle bag was that was approaching their front door. It took no time for Ned
to realize it was Dean. The front door swung open as Ned ran in his house
slippers into the deep snow to greet and kiss his unruly younger son. Once
family and dog greetings were made, tears were shed by Abbey. The lunch feast (which
included brazed calf) was consumed, and now it was time to open all the
Christmas gifts.
Since
the Carmel family had not heard from Dean in a long time, they assumed he could
be dead or permanently lost to them. Dean’s gifts (though he didn’t expect anything
better than what a friend might receive) included a beautiful silk, crimson
bathrobe and an antique ring from his father that once belonged to Dean’s grandfather.
Dean was overcome with his parent’s unconditional generosity. Everyone
but Lawson was elated that the prodigal son was finally home. (Lawson thought
it felt strange to finally be the good son.)
Lawson
angrily let out a mouth of loud expletives directed at Dean, surprised everyone
in the family (including Fig Newton). In the past months, Lawson had made a turn-around
in his life. His parents were proud of the change. He’d not given them half as
much worry as Dean had (or at least Lawson couldn’t think of anything).
Abbey
loved her two sons with all her heart, but sibling rivalry was a very ugly
thing. She had to somehow fix this problem between her two sons because her family
was everything.
“If they had a social gospel in the days of the Prodigal
Son, somebody would have given him a bed and a sandwich and he never would have
gone home.” (Vance Havner)[i]
[i] Adapted from: All
for One: The Towns of Ohio Completer Trilogy by Robert Kinker, Book
One: Chapter Twenty-Four ”The Homecoming of Rebel” and Luke 15:11-32 and
Chapter Six “Problem Fixer” and I Samuel 25:1-37
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